NYC for Kate's 16th Birthday

A few months back, Mikele told me she was planning a trip to NYC for Kate's 16th birthday and would I be interested in going? I didn't have to think twice about that - anytime I can get back to the city I will take it! We flew out on Thursday, January 16th on a 6am super early flight. We flew Delta and I had not flown that airline for a couple of years, and I think they are currently my favorite. The plane was nice with a TV screen at each seat, and we landed early and our bags were at baggage claim by the time we walked down there at JFK.

We took the Airtrain to the subway to our hotel - we stayed at the Sheraton Four Points Downtown. Once we got checked in, we had a little time to spare so we walked down to the Brooklyn Bridge and South Street Seaport. We wanted to get something quick to eat, and South Street Seaport used to have so many quick service restaurants, but it has completely changed since the last time I was there.

On Thursday night we had show tickets to The Lion King - Kate's favorite Broadway show.

"Remember who you are." - Mufasa

This was my second time seeing The Lion King in NYC and it was just as good as the first time.

On Friday we spent the day primarily in Lower Manhattan. We started at the WTC site...

...and the Freedom Tower.

We then walked along the Hudson River down to Battery Park City.

We decided to do the "free" version of seeing the Statue of Liberty a little closer by riding the Staten Island Ferry. Mikele and I went outside for a picture and it was so cold and windy.

After the ferry, we decided to take a bus ride to midtown to warm up for a little while. Lunch was at Penelope - I found this place when I lived there, and usually make it back to this restaurant on every trip.

After lunch we went back to the hotel for some down time. Everyone wanted pizza for dinner, so we went to Rubirosa Ristorante - this was a top rated pizza place and it didn't disappoint. The only bad thing was that we were seated near the door so every time that door opened we got a blast of cold air.

After dinner we walked through Little Italy to La Bella Ferrara - Lauren introduced me to this place years ago and it is still my favorite cannoli.

Saturday morning we made our way uptown and went to The Julliard School.

We walked through Central Park to Strawberry Fields.

While we were in the park it started snowing and was coming down pretty good by the time we got to the The Museum of Natural History. We considered going to the museum, but once we got inside it was packed so we decided to skip it.

Instead, we went to Levain Bakery and had a cookie.

We then walked across the park to the UES.

It was so pretty in the park with the snow.

We walked through my old neighborhood and then hopped on the subway back to the hotel for the afternoon. Saturday night Carley and Kate wanted to ice skate, so Mikele and I sat in the warmth at Bryant Park and watched the ice skaters. We were going to Serendipity after skating, but had not yet eaten dinner, so I found this place called Oath Pizza on the UES. It was excellent - and had cauliflower crust.

Serendipity for dessert - I ordered the smallest dessert on the menu which was called Ice Cream, A Dish, and this is what I got.

Sunday the young girls slept in, and Mikele and I went to Wall Street and sat in mass at Trinity Church.

We then walked around the World Trade Center Transportation Hub.

We picked up the girls and then went back to midtown and to Bloomingdale's.

The bathrooms in Bloomingdale's were amazing.

These taxi shoes in the Kate Spade windows at Rock Center were pretty cool (I would never wear them but for a window they worked).

The iconic Rockefeller Center picture.

I was being an anchor on the Today Show.

Sunday night we went to the top of the Empire State Building.

Midtown

Freedom Tower and Lower Manhattan

Another shot of midtown after dark

It was so cold outside, but the reason we look red is because they had some heaters out there which was nice.

These last few pictures are out of chronological order from the trip, but they are the four coffee shops we visited each morning. It was my goal to go to a different coffee shop each day.

Friday morning - Irving Farm Coffee Roasters

Saturday morning - BoxKite Coffee

Sunday morning - Blue Bottle Coffee

Monday morning - Birch Coffee

It was a great 4 days back in NYC - I get back there and city life comes back to me like I never left. But, I will take 75 and sunny during the winter as opposed to 30 and snowy.